my top 100!
I've been having a lot of fun lately with movie lists. First I posted the IMDB 250, then the AFI 100. For me, both these lists had a few flaws in common... For one thing, the number of films on each list which I had actually viewed was... pathetic. Secondly, neither list was complete: the IMDB 250 is arbitrary, driven by the Roland Emmerich/Michael Bay-loving masses; and the AFI 100, being an American list, eliminates all foreign language films (some of which are truly great).
So I decided to sit down and come up with the only top movie list that will ever be perfect. Of course, I'm talking about my list. (Hang on, while I pry my tongue out of my cheek. OK, that's better.) Seriously, it was a lot harder than I expected, especially putting all these movies in order. Frankly, if I compiled this list daily, it would probably look different every single time.
I've included movies from nearly every genre: sci-fi, comedy, fantasy, drama, animated, musicals, foreign films... there are even some short films and a documentary included. You'll certainly notice an abundance of "chick flicks". (Hey, I'm a chick.) All my favorite filmmakers are represented: Peter Jackson, the Coen brothers, Baz Luhrmann. You'll see my favorite actors here, too: Cate Blanchett, Edward Norton, Ryan Gosling, and Audrey Hepburn.
...And, yes, the Britney Spears movie makes the list. Say what you want, but Crossroads has a hold on me like The One Ring had on Gollum. The karaoke scene rocks. I adore that scruffy guy who drives the car. I want to go on a road trip with those girls. I like what I like, people.
And you know you love me anyway.
So here's Nayana's Top 100 as of April 2008.
So I decided to sit down and come up with the only top movie list that will ever be perfect. Of course, I'm talking about my list. (Hang on, while I pry my tongue out of my cheek. OK, that's better.) Seriously, it was a lot harder than I expected, especially putting all these movies in order. Frankly, if I compiled this list daily, it would probably look different every single time.
I've included movies from nearly every genre: sci-fi, comedy, fantasy, drama, animated, musicals, foreign films... there are even some short films and a documentary included. You'll certainly notice an abundance of "chick flicks". (Hey, I'm a chick.) All my favorite filmmakers are represented: Peter Jackson, the Coen brothers, Baz Luhrmann. You'll see my favorite actors here, too: Cate Blanchett, Edward Norton, Ryan Gosling, and Audrey Hepburn.
...And, yes, the Britney Spears movie makes the list. Say what you want, but Crossroads has a hold on me like The One Ring had on Gollum. The karaoke scene rocks. I adore that scruffy guy who drives the car. I want to go on a road trip with those girls. I like what I like, people.
And you know you love me anyway.
So here's Nayana's Top 100 as of April 2008.
- The Lord of the Rings - The Return of the King IMDB
- The Lord of the Rings - The Fellowship of the Ring IMDB
- The Lord of the Rings - The Two Towers IMDB
- Moulin Rouge! IMDB
- The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe IMDB
- Love Actually IMDB
- Schindler's List IMDB
- The Passion of the Christ IMDB
- Juno IMDB
- Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi IMDB
- Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back IMDB
- Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope IMDB
- William Shakespeare's Romeo + Juliet IMDB
- Pan's Labyrinth IMDB
- Breakfast at Tiffany's IMDB
- Ever After - A Cinderella Story IMDB
- The Diving Bell and the Butterfly IMDB
- The Little Matchgirl IMDB
- Superman II: The Richard Donner Cut IMDB
- The Princess Bride IMDB
- The Matrix IMDB
- Somewhere In Time IMDB
- Persepolis IMDB
- Once IMDB
- Across the Universe IMDB
- Casablanca IMDB
- Into the Wild IMDB
- My Big Fat Greek Wedding IMDB
- Sweet Land IMDB
- Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith IMDB
- Forrest Gump IMDB
- The Graduate IMDB
- 50 First Dates IMDB
- Fargo IMDB
- Notes on a Scandal IMDB
- Walk the Line IMDB
- Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home IMDB
- Pride and Prejudice IMDB
- An American Tail IMDB
- Edward Scissorhands IMDB
- No Country for Old Men IMDB
- Amélie IMDB
- From Here to Eternity IMDB
- Sleeping Beauty IMDB
- Elf IMDB
- The Wizard of Oz IMDB
- The Truth About Cats & Dogs IMDB
- Fiddler on the Roof IMDB
- Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan IMDB
- Wayne's World 2 IMDB
- Wayne's World IMDB
- The Shawshank Redemption IMDB
- Shakespeare in Love IMDB
- Knocked Up IMDB
- Happy Gilmore IMDB
- Paris, Je T'aime IMDB
- Lars and the Real Girl IMDB
- Volver IMDB
- Clueless IMDB
- Michael Clayton IMDB
- West Bank Story IMDB
- Vertigo IMDB
- The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford IMDB
- Enchanted IMDB
- The American President IMDB
- Fried Green Tomatoes IMDB
- Dan in Real Life IMDB
- It's a Wonderful Life IMDB
- I Met the Walrus IMDB
- O Brother, Where Art Thou? IMDB
- The Italian Job IMDB
- Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind IMDB
- Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street IMDB
- Batman Begins IMDB
- Tommy Boy IMDB
- Finding Nemo IMDB
- Titanic IMDB
- The Painted Veil IMDB
- Waitress IMDB
- The Notebook IMDB
- Napoleon Dynamite IMDB
- Babel IMDB
- V for Vendetta IMDB
- Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day IMDB
- Big Fish IMDB
- Rain Man IMDB
- Sabrina IMDB
- The Sound of Music IMDB
- Gandhi IMDB
- Life is Beautiful IMDB
- Chicago IMDB
- Crossroads IMDB
- Sleepless in Seattle IMDB
- Ratatouille IMDB
- Dead Poets Society IMDB
- A Christmas Story IMDB
- My Fair Lady IMDB
- The Wedding Singer IMDB
- City of Angels IMDB
- This Film is Not Yet Rated IMDB
April 3, 2008 at 5:46 PM
I love that Crossroads makes your list... Not because I like it too (I haven't even seen it) but because everyone has a handful of movies they adore whether or not they consider them "worthy". There's something about these personal treasures that says a lot about why movies are important to us - and we definitely shouldn't be ashamed of them! Great blog.
April 3, 2008 at 7:09 PM
Nice list, I've seen 84! Love the variety of genres. I'd have trouble putting my faves in order, nice job!
April 3, 2008 at 8:37 PM
I've seen 74 of the movies on the list... many of them with you.
Captain Crash
April 3, 2008 at 11:45 PM
Ha - yeah, I've been working on a list like this myself, what with you and all your lists lately (and everyone else's, too). Also, Shea put up his top 50 awhile back.
It's damn impossible to do, though, so huzzah to you for doing it. Though Ross would like that I put Roadhouse and Point Break on mine. No, these aren't "the best" films ever, but they're some of my favorites that I could watch again and again, and that's what counts, right?
April 4, 2008 at 1:30 AM
Have you seen Strictly Ballroom? I always seem to wedge it between Moulin Rouge and Romeo + Juliet when I list Baz Luhrmann's works because. Did you know I share a birthday with Baz?
April 4, 2008 at 1:31 AM
'Luhrmann's works because' that's the order of favoritism. Sorry, I was typing like I think.
April 4, 2008 at 10:22 AM
I love your list! I love that "Love Actually" and "Juno" made it into your top ten. (I am so tired of the "Juno" backlash".) This was indeed quite an undertaking. I'd love to come up with my own top 100.
April 4, 2008 at 12:57 PM
Great list! I've seen 68 of the films listed. Although I'm curious, why did Crossroads make your list?
April 7, 2008 at 11:03 AM
Ross... I like your blog too! And thanks for the comment. I think that's the best part about being indviduals... we can be ok with our movie choices, even if no one else is.
Linda... Thanks!
Captain Crash... I'd love to see your list. I'm sure it would be very horror-heavy.
Fletch... I'm eagerly anticipating your list. I'm guessing there wouldn't be a whole lot of classics included... am I right?
Chris... That's all you needed to say... it's on the Netflix. I'm thinking I should just give you my password and let you load my queue. ;-)
Pat... thanks! A lot of "Great Film" lists are light on the chick flicks, aren't they? Not my list!
Faded... Reread the fourth paragraph. That's actually the only film on the list I felt like I needed to explain. The short answer is: Because it makes me happy.
Thanks all for your comments. I am loving this community!!!
April 7, 2008 at 11:20 AM
Nice job with a difficult task...I often have a hard time putting together a top 10, so to do 100. Wow. I just found your site, and look forward to exploring it more, as I am always excited to find another passionate movie fan.
Keep it up,
LEE
April 9, 2008 at 7:41 PM
Gosh, I do NOT think I could do this. Such hard decisions to make. But like you said, it can change any time. Oh, and I think I've seen 90 of yours. Great taste!